Oreo, the California Kingsnake

Oreo, the California kingsnake, is a classroom favorite. Students often ask, "Is Oreo here today?" as they enter the room. Oreo has been an animal ambassador with Things That Creep since 2020 and has visited 31 classrooms so far in 2025! 

Kingsnakes are excellent neighbors, helping keep our gardens and homes free from mice, rats, and gophers.  Kingsnakes have earned their name by eating other snakes in the wild, including rattlesnakes and they are even immune to the rattlesnake's venom!

Here at Things That Creep, Oreo eats a weekly frozen, thawed mouse. 

FAST FACTS:

• California kingsnakes are nonvenomous, meaning they do not have venom and are not harmful to humans! However, when scared or threatened, this species can excrete a musk to detract predators. 

• This type of kingsnake usually has alternating dark and light bands that range from black and white to brown and cream. These stripes and bands actually help them camouflage from predators. 

• California kingsnakes are cathemeral, meaning they can be active day or night depending on temperatures. 

• While they live mostly solitary lives, California kingsnakes will group together for brumation and mating season. 

Animal Ambassador Sponsorship

At Things That Creep, we are committed to a lifetime of high-quality care for our animal ambassadors, even in retirement. Your support helps feed and care for our animal ambassadors.

Sponsorship levels:

Tier 1: $24 feeds animal ambassador for 3 months

• Animal Ambassador Certificate

Tier 2: $96 feeds animal ambassador for 1 year

• Sticker of your animal ambassador

• Animal Ambassador Certificate

Tier 3: $250 provides full care for animal ambassador for 1 year

• Private meet and greet with your ambassador

• Sticker of your animal ambassador

• Animal Ambassador Certificate